U.S. patent number 8,030,888 [Application Number 12/190,439] was granted by the patent office on 2011-10-04 for wireless charging system for vehicles.
Invention is credited to Ashish A. Pandya, Ravi A. Pandya.
United States Patent |
8,030,888 |
Pandya , et al. |
October 4, 2011 |
Wireless charging system for vehicles
Abstract
A system of energy storage and charging usable in vehicles and
other applications that eliminate the battery capacity and
automotive range issues is described. In our invention, vehicles
are equipped with charging mechanisms to charge and recharge
onboard batteries using wireless electricity and power transmission
using magnetic resonant coupling between tuned electromagnetic
circuits. The batteries may be charged using wireless charging
systems installed along the roads while the vehicle is in use on
the road. Charging system may optionally utilize infrared laser
beam radiation to transmit power for charging the batteries on
board a vehicle while it is in use as well. The onboard vehicle
batteries may also be charged when the vehicle is not being driven
either by plugging in the vehicle into wall electricity using wired
power connection or may be wirelessly charged using the magnetic
resonant coupling. By locating the charging circuits on roads, a
continuous operation of electric-only mode of hybrid vehicles or
pure electric-only vehicles can be accomplished and fully eliminate
the need for gasoline usage.
Inventors: |
Pandya; Ravi A. (El Dorado
Hills, CA), Pandya; Ashish A. (El Dorado Hills, CA) |
Family
ID: |
40362431 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/190,439 |
Filed: |
August 12, 2008 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20090045773 A1 |
Feb 19, 2009 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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60964639 |
Aug 13, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
320/109;
320/108 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60L
53/52 (20190201); H02J 50/30 (20160201); B60L
53/00 (20190201); B60L 53/12 (20190201); H02J
50/90 (20160201); H02J 7/025 (20130101); H02J
50/40 (20160201); B60L 53/32 (20190201); B60L
53/14 (20190201); H02J 50/12 (20160201); B60L
53/51 (20190201); H02J 7/02 (20130101); H02J
50/80 (20160201); B60L 5/005 (20130101); H02J
7/34 (20130101); Y02T 10/70 (20130101); Y02T
90/14 (20130101); H02J 2300/28 (20200101); H02J
7/35 (20130101); Y02T 10/7072 (20130101); Y02T
90/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H02J
7/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;320/108,109 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Diao; M'Baye
Attorney, Agent or Firm: DLA Piper LLP US
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATIONS
Priority is claimed to Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/964,639,
filed on Aug. 13, 2007, which is incorporated herein fully by
reference.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A road way system comprising a wireless charging system for
vehicles, said wireless charging system comprising a transmitter
system and further comprising a receiver system, said transmitter
system to wirelessly transmit power to said receiver system, said
transmitter system wirelessly coupled to the said receiver system
using magnetic resonant coupling, said transmitter and receiver
systems comprising tuned electromagnetic circuits to perform
wireless power transfer from said transmitter system to said
receiver system, said transmitter system embedded under, or over,
or by the side of the said road way system, and the said receiver
system installed in said vehicles used on said road way system,
said receiver system comprising a rechargeable battery system
wirelessly coupled to said transmitter system to charge a
rechargeable battery, and said receiver system further comprising
electric motor powered by said rechargeable battery to drive said
vehicle operated by said rechargeable battery system, when said
rechargeable battery is charged.
2. The road way system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of
transmitter systems where a first group of said transmitter systems
get turned on to transmit the power to said receiver system to
charge said rechargeable battery when one of said vehicles is
within a pre-selected distance from said group of transmitter
systems, and a second group of transmitter systems that are turned
off when said vehicle is at least said pre-selected distance away
from said second group of transmitter systems.
3. A wireless charging system for vehicles, said wireless charging
system comprising a transmitter system and further comprising a
receiver system, said transmitter system to wirelessly transmit
power to said receiver system, said transmitter system comprising a
light or laser or infrared laser transmitting device coupled to
said receiver system using visible or invisible light spectrum
coupling, said receiver system comprising a visible or invisible
light detector panel to receive the energy transmitted by said
transmitter, said receiver system further comprising a rechargeable
battery system wirelessly coupled to said transmitter system to
charge z rechargeable battery, and said receiver system further
comprising a load operated by said rechargeable battery system,
when said rechargeable battery is charged, said wireless charging
system for vehicles for use in a road way system, said road way
system comprising said transmitter system embedded under, or over,
or by the side of said road way system, and said receiver system
installed in said vehicles used on said road way system, said
receiver system comprising said rechargeable battery system
wirelessly coupled to said transmitter system to charge said
rechargeable battery, and said receiver system further comprising
electric motor powered by said rechargeable battery to drive said
vehicle operated by said rechargeable battery system, when said
rechargeable battery is charged.
4. The road way system of claim 3, comprising a plurality of
transmitter systems where a first group of said transmitter systems
get turned on to transmit the power to the said receiver system to
charge said rechargeable battery when one of said vehicles is
within a pre-selected distance from said group of transmitter
systems, and a second group of transmitter systems that are turned
off when said vehicle is said pre-selected distance away from said
second group of transmitter systems.
5. The light or laser or infrared laser transmitting device of
claim 3, comprising a focusing or directional power transmitting
apparatus to focus the transmitted power in a preset direction to
maximize said transmit power to said receiver system.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to alternative energy technologies
and in particular to rechargeable batteries for vehicles.
A significant amount of research and development resources are
being devoted towards alternative energy technologies. Global
warming issues driven from the carbon released in the atmosphere
from burning of fossil fuels and other green house gases has led to
a significant worldwide interest from scientists and researchers to
address the issues. Alternative energy technologies like wind,
solar, electrochemical, magnetic, geothermal, biomass, nuclear and
the like are being pursued aggressively for large scale
commercialization to mitigate the impact of fossil fuel based
energy resources on climate change as well as over cost of such
fuels.
Electrochemical batteries and fuel cells have been considered as
most promising energy research area by their supporters. These
small and non-polluting devices that produce energy without
combustion could help many residential power needs, but their most
exciting application is in transportation. These devices are used
in the automotive market in hybrid vehicles that have seen a 20
fold increase in their sales from 10,000 units in 2000 to over
200,000 cars in 2005. The key driving force behind the development
and the sale of hybrid vehicles is the improvement in fuel
efficiency and economy. Hybrid vehicles comprise of both an
internal combustion engine and an electric motor which run on
gasoline and battery power respectively. Today's commercially
available hybrid vehicles use small batteries or fuel cells which
can store 1-2 kilowatt-hours of energy. The electric battery power
is primarily used for shorter distances with stop and go traffic
where the gasoline fuel economy is very low. However, if the
battery capacity of the hybrid vehicles is increased to include 6-8
kilowatt-hours of energy storage, the vehicle could operate in an
electric-only mode for up to 50 miles. However, development of
battery technology for use of such vehicles in electric-only mode
for distances larger than 50 miles is considered extremely
difficult by leading scientists. This would practically prevent
creation of pure electric-only vehicles that give comparable
driving range as presently available gasoline vehicles without
recharging or refueling.
Today's hybrid vehicles utilize Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH)
batteries, however Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries can be used to
double the energy efficiency and power over Ni-MH batteries.
However for pure electric only vehicles at least a doubling of
battery capacity over Li-ion batteries is required which is
considered a nontrivial undertaking by leading research
organizations.
Our inventions show a system of energy storage and charging usable
in vehicles and other applications that eliminate the battery
capacity and automotive range issues discussed above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to alternative energy technologies
and in particular to rechargeable batteries for vehicles.
Today's hybrid vehicles utilize Ni-MH batteries with a capacity in
the range of 1-2 Kilowatt-hours that allow it to operate for 10 to
20 miles without using any gasoline. This range can be increased to
40 to 50 miles of electric-only operation by increasing battery
capacity to 6-8 kilowatt-hours as is achievable using Li-Ion
battery technology. Such driving distance is sufficient for many
local driving usage patterns where the battery may get recharged
each night before local driving and thus may avoid using gasoline
for the hybrid vehicle. However, whenever the driving distance is
more than the range of 40 to 50 miles, gasoline has to be used.
Thus green-house gases would still be generated in large portions
and would continue to create transportation driven global warming
issues.
We show a system of energy storage and charging usable in vehicles
and other applications that eliminate the battery capacity and
automotive range issues. In our invention, vehicles are equipped
with charging mechanisms to charge and recharge onboard batteries
while the vehicle is being driven on the road using wireless
electricity and power transmission using magnetic resonant coupling
between tuned electromagnetic circuits. The charging system may
optionally utilize infrared laser beam radiation to transmit power
for charging the batteries on board a vehicle while it is in
use.
By locating the charging circuits at appropriate places as
illustrated and described below, a continuous operation of
electric-only mode of hybrid vehicles or pure electric-only
vehicles can be accomplished and completely eliminate the need for
gasoline usage. Thus our invention can truly solve the global
warming and green house gases issue created from transportation
methods that use fossil fuels.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A illustrates magnetic resonant coupled wireless charger for
vehicle battery.
FIG. 1B illustrates magnetic resonant coupled wireless charger for
dual mode vehicle batteries.
FIG. 2A illustrates magnetic resonant coupled wireless charger for
vehicles.
FIG. 2B illustrates magnetic resonant coupled wireless charging
system embedded on a road.
FIG. 3A illustrates Wireless chargers on a road built in
segments
FIG. 3B illustrates Continuous Wireless Chargers on a road
FIG. 3C illustrates Segments of Wireless chargers on a road
activated using sensors
FIG. 4A illustrates Laser beam coupled wireless charger for vehicle
battery
FIG. 4B illustrates Laser beam coupled wireless charger for dual
mode vehicle batteries
FIG. 5A illustrates Laser beam coupled Wireless charger for
vehicles
FIG. 5B illustrates Laser beam coupled Wireless charger for
vehicles embedded on a road
FIG. 6A illustrates Laser Wireless Chargers on the road built in
segments
FIG. 6B illustrates Continuous laser wireless chargers on a
road
FIG. 6C illustrates Segments of Laser Wireless Chargers on a road
activated using sensors
DESCRIPTION
This invention relates generally to alternative energy technologies
and in particular to rechargeable batteries for vehicles.
We show a system of energy storage and charging usable in vehicles
and other applications that eliminate the battery capacity and
automotive range issues. In our invention, vehicles are equipped
with charging mechanisms to charge and recharge onboard batteries
using wireless electricity and power transmission using magnetic
resonant coupling between tuned electromagnetic circuits while the
vehicle is being driven on the road. The charging system may
optionally utilize infrared laser beam radiation to transmit power
for charging the batteries on board a vehicle while it is in use as
described below. The onboard vehicle batteries may also be charged
when the vehicle is not being driven either by plugging in the
vehicle into wall electricity using wired power connection or may
be wirelessly charged using the magnetic resonant coupling.
By locating the charging circuits at on roads as illustrated and
described below, a continuous operation of electric-only mode of
hybrid vehicles or pure electric-only vehicles can be accomplished
and fully eliminate the need for gasoline usage. Thus our invention
can truly solve the global warming and green house issue created by
transportation methods that use fossil fuels.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Today's hybrid vehicles deploy 1-2 kilowatt-hour rechargeable
batteries which give them an electric only mode operation for 10 to
20 miles. This range can be extended to 40 to 50 miles using 6 to 8
Kilowatt-hour batteries using Li-Ion batteries. The batteries
cannot be used until they are recharged once they are used for
their target range. Such range of operation in electric only mode
can be useful for local travel, however for longer distance travel
gasoline has to be used which continues to add green house gases in
the atmosphere.
To extend the battery capacity to store more energy is a difficult
problem to solve and may even require new battery technology and
materials to be invented. Our invention does not require invention
of any new battery technology. Our invention works with existing
rechargeable battery technologies like NiMH, Li-Ion and the like or
fuel cells.
The rechargeable batteries of the hybrid vehicles today may be
charged by the owners at home or at work or at charging stations or
the like by plugging in the batteries for charging to wired
chargers at such locations extracting electricity from wall
electric plugs and the like. During the period of charging a hybrid
vehicle is not usable. These limitations prevent development of
electric only vehicles that provide the same range as hybrid or
gasoline only vehicles.
In our invention vehicles may be equipped with wireless battery
charging systems to charge the rechargeable batteries onboard the
vehicle. In our invention wireless battery charging systems are
optionally laid out or built or embedded on the road surface or may
be overhead on the roads or on the sides of the roads or the like.
The road surface mounted wireless charging systems may be built on
roads that may be specifically built to allow vehicles to drive
over them. Similarly chargers may be mounted overhead on the roads
where vehicles may be driven under them. When a vehicle equipped
with a wireless battery charging system passes over or under or by
the wireless charger systems on roads specifically built with such
systems the onboard battery of the vehicle may be charged as
described below. In this patent roads equipped with charging
systems are also referred to as charging roads.
FIG. 1A illustrates magnetic resonant coupled wireless charger for
vehicle battery. Transmitting power using wireless methods has been
known for a long time. However, recently researchers at MIT
demonstrated a wireless power transfer using strongly coupled
magnetic resonant coils that use non-radiating megahertz frequency
magnetic field using self-resonant copper magnetic coils to light a
60 Watt light bulb. This principle of wireless power transfer is
used in this invention to wirelessly charge a vehicle battery. The
power transmitter coil or device, 102, is strongly tuned and
coupled magnetically to the power receiving coil or device, 105,
using magnetic resonance to transfer power even when there is no
physical connection between the two devices, 102 and 105. These
coils or devices can be separated from each other for up to several
meters and still achieve a large portion of transmitter power to be
received. Further, unlike an inductive coupling mechanism that is
used in traditional power supplies where a close proximity between
coils is required to achieve a high power transfer efficiency, the
strong magnetic resonance coupling can be used to achieve a high
power transfer efficiency even when the distance between the
transmitting and receiving devices are several meters. Such a
method of power transfer can achieve orders of magnitude higher
efficiency of power transfer at these distances compared to
inductive coupling or radiated electromagnetic energy used in
wireless communication devices. Further, resonant magnetically
coupled non-radiating magnetic field does not interact strongly
with objects that are not resonant to its frequency and are also
not harmful to biological systems and hence do not pose a
significant health hazard for people.
The transmitter coil, 102, is powered by a power supply, 101, which
may draw its power from a power station or power source which may
be generating its power using technologies like solar power,
nuclear power, geothermal power, coal or wind or the like. The
power supply generates current through the wires, 103 & 104,
coupled to the transmitter coil, 102, to generate a non-radiating
resonant magnetic field around the coil. The receiving coil, 105,
is resonant to this magnetic field and receives the transmitted
power when it is within a distance of a few meters of the
transmitter coil, 102, without physical contact with the
transmitter coil. The receiving coil is coupled to a rechargeable
battery and its circuits, 110, through a switch 108, and the
connecting wires, 107 and 106. When the switch, 108, is closed or
turned-on, the circuit connectivity between the receiving coil and
the battery circuit, 110, is established and a current flow is
established which starts charging the battery. Once the battery,
110, is charged, the switch, 108, is turned-off to prevent the
battery from overcharging. The figure does not illustrate all the
control circuits that perform the functions of turning various
switches and sensors in this invention on and off, so as to not
obscure the invention. Design and implementation of controlling a
switch to perform the on and off functions are well understood as
may be obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art. Once the
battery is charged the switch, 109, is closed or turned-on which
establishes a circuit connection between the battery and a load,
111, which can then draw power from the battery to do its
operation. In one embodiment of this invention, the load, 111, may
optionally be an electric motor and its associated circuitry used
to drive a vehicle. The vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle or
may be a hybrid vehicle or the like. The rechargeable battery, 110,
may optionally be made of NiMH or Li-Ion or Lead-acid or the like
technologies. As discussed above, our invention is agnostic to the
type of the rechargeable battery technology, except that
appropriate battery circuits in 110 would need to be embodied to
properly operate the battery.
FIG. 1B illustrates magnetic resonant coupled wireless charger for
dual mode vehicle batteries. The circuits illustrated in this
figure operate similar to those illustrated in FIG. 1A, however a
few components are added in this illustration. A set of switches,
112 and 113, and another rechargeable battery, 114, is added in
this illustration. Two rechargeable batteries in this operating
mode can thus be used in dual modes, where in, when one battery is
being charged the other may be used to operate the load, 111. For
instance, when battery 110 is fully charged and is being used to
operate the load, 111, the battery, 114, may be charged from the
receiving coil 105, when the switch 112 is closed or turned-on to
establish a circuit between the battery, 114, and the receiving
coil, 105, through the wires, 106 and 107. During such operation,
the switches 108 and 113 would be open or turned-off and the switch
109 would be closed or turned-on to establish connectivity between
battery, 110, and load 111 and establish separate circuit
connectivity between the coil, 105, and battery, 114. Similarly,
when the battery 110, is being charged from the receiving coil, and
the battery 114 is being used to operate the load 111, the switches
109 and 112 would be turned-off or be open whereas the switches 108
and 113 would be closed or turned-on. Thus the illustrated system
of FIG. 1B can be used to operate a load at all times, from one or
the other battery while the battery not be used to operate the load
is being charged from the wireless charging elements of this
illustration.
The vehicle batteries used today can hold 1-2 kilowatt-hours of
energy, however Li-ion batteries can hold 6-8 kilowatt-hours of
energy to enable electric only travel mode for 40 to 50 miles. In
our invention, unlike the MIT demonstration of 60 W power transfer,
a much higher level of power transfer may optionally be performed
to charge the batteries in a short time period. The power transfer
may be in the range to 6 to 8 Kilowatts or more using multiple
transmit and receive coils and use parallel paths from such coils
to charge the batteries in a short time period as may be
appreciated by one with ordinary skill in the art.
FIG. 2A illustrates a Magnetic resonant coupled wireless charger
for vehicles. The figure illustrates a vehicle, 201, with onboard
rechargeable batteries, 110 and 114, along with the receive coil or
device, 105 and the appropriate switches 108, 109, 112 and 113
which are described above for illustration in FIG. 1B. The wireless
power transmitting components, like 101 and 102, along with their
connecting circuits are left off from the vehicle. When the vehicle
comes within the magnetic resonant coupling distance of the power
transmit device or coil, 102, it can start receiving power to
charge its battery or operate a load or the like. The transmit coil
may be deployed in homes, offices, charging stations or the like
where a vehicle using the onboard wireless power receiving device,
105, can draw power from the transmit coil to recharge its on board
battery or batteries. When the wireless power transmitter is
deployed at locations like a home or an office or a charging
station or a like at fixed designated charging locations, the
vehicle cannot be used while it is being charged. Under such a
scenario a wireless charging device may not add a lot of value to a
user of an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, compared to
today's wired charging solutions, except that a close contact with
the charging devices may not be required if a wireless charging
technology is used as described in this patent. However, the
limitation of the usage of hybrid vehicle with regards to the
driving range of 40 to 50 miles only in an electric only mode would
continue to remain.
FIG. 2B illustrates magnetic resonant coupled wireless charging
system embedded on a road. In this embodiment of our invention, one
or more power transmitting devices, 102, are built or embedded on
the road, 202 or the road surface or the like. In other embodiments
of this invention the power transmitting devices may be above the
road over the vehicles or on the side of the road as described
above. Even though the figure illustrates the power supply
elements, 101, of the wireless power transmitter subsystems, 203(1)
through 203(n), are illustrated to be embedded in the road next to
the transmitting coils, 102, it is possible and may be preferred to
have the power supplies be located at a facility away from the
road, like at a power station or the like and the wires, 103 and
104, connecting the power supply, 101 to the transmitting device or
coil, 102, be run from such locations to the transmitting coils or
devices, 102. When a vehicle, 201, equipped with a wireless
receiving device and rechargeable batteries and the like comes in
magnetic resonance coupling distance of the power transmitter
subsystem like 203 (1), it can receive power to charge its on board
rechargeable battery while it is in the coupling distance which may
be a few meters. If only one such power transmitter subsystem, like
203(1) is present, when the vehicle is moving, the vehicle may stay
in the coupling distance for a few seconds depending on the speed
of the vehicle and would certainly not be sufficient to charge its
battery. However, as illustrated in this figure, if multiple power
transmitter subsystems are embedded on the road where the vehicle
is traveling, the vehicle's onboard power receiving coil or device,
105, may be coupled to at least one of the wireless power
transmitter subsystems thereby creating an effect of the receiving
coil to be constantly coupled to a power transmitting device as if
the vehicle is stationary near a wireless power transmitter. Thus
using the invention of this patent, a vehicle can continue to be
charged while it is in motion as long as the vehicle is in the
magnetic resonance coupling distance of the wireless transmitter
device. This can drastically lower or eliminate the need of
vehicles to operate on fossil fuels even for longer distances
comparable to the range of today's gasoline fueled vehicles, if
charging roads with appropriate sections of wireless power
transmitter subsystems are available.
FIG. 3A illustrates wireless chargers on a road built in segments.
In this illustration the wireless power transmitter subsystems are
embedded on sections of the roads which may each stretch for
distances of a few miles to 30 miles or more. For example, when a
vehicle 201 enters the section 301, it may be able to wirelessly
start charging one or more of its on board batteries, while using
one of the charged batteries to continue to drive on the charging
road section 301. If section 301, stretches for say 50 miles, and
the vehicle is driven at a speed of 50 miles per hour, then the
onboard rechargeable batteries can be wirelessly charged for a
period of one hour which may be sufficient to transfer a
significant energy to the batteries to continue to drive on the
road for a while before the next stretch or section, 302, of
wireless charging road is reached, when the vehicle can start
charging the batteries again. As described above the power
transmitter subsystems would transmit significant power like for
one embodiment of over 6 to 8 Kilowatt hour. Thus by using the
inventions of this patent, vehicles can achieve electric-only mode
of operation for long distance travel along with local travel and
possibly eliminate or sharply reduce the need for gasoline.
FIG. 3B illustrates Continuous Wireless Chargers on a road. There
may be special roads build with the wireless power transmitter
subsystems built from one place to another place which can be used
to wirelessly charge on board batteries of vehicles or even
completely power such vehicles to operate using wireless power
transmitted from the wireless transmitter subsystems. Such roads
may be toll roads or built specifically for wireless power charging
for vehicles with wireless power receivers.
FIG. 3C illustrates Segments of Wireless Chargers on a road
activated using sensors. The vehicles with wireless power receiving
devices onboard vehicles and the wireless power transmitter
subsystems on the roads may optionally comprise of sensors or
communication devices that can communicate with each other (not
illustrated). Thus when a vehicle with a wireless power receiving
device is in magnetic coupling distance of the wireless power
transmitter subsystem the sensors or the communication devices
communicate with each other such that only a small number of
wireless power transmitter subsystems may need to be turned on to
not waste power from power transmitter subsystems that may not be
in a coupling distance of the vehicle. In one embodiment power
transmitter devices within a few meters of the vehicle may be
turned on in a sequence as the vehicle travels while those not in
the coupling distance may be turned off there by saving power from
being wasted. For example, when the vehicle comes near a section of
the road like 304, the power transmitters of section 304 and
optionally sections 305 or the like may be turned-on, however the
transmitters in sections of road beyond 306 may be turned-off.
However, as the vehicle moves forward for example to section 306,
the power transmitters of sections 304 and 305 may be turned-off
while the power transmitters of section 306, 307 and the like may
be turned-on. The number of power transmitters turned-on around the
vehicle may depend on many factors like the range of magnetic
coupling, the strength of the magnetic fields, the length of the
vehicle, the number of receiver devices on the vehicle and the like
as may be appreciated by one with ordinary skill in the art.
Further, if vehicles that do not posses the onboard wireless
charging devices or may not need to charge their batteries or the
like travel on the roads with wireless power transmitters, the
power transmitters would not be turned on there by using their
power only when necessary to charge a vehicle with wireless power
receiver device and optionally only when such a vehicle needs its
batteries to be charged.
FIG. 4A illustrates laser beam coupled wireless charger for vehicle
battery. Solar panels are used to receive energy from the sunlight
and convert it into electricity. However, this process is highly
inefficient and also dependent on the weather condition for it to
be effective for power generation. Though solar powered vehicles
have been demonstrated they are not in widespread use for reasons
outlined above as well as cost and other reasons. Solar panels have
primarily been used as a way of generating power from sun light on
buildings and fixed locations during periods of sunlight. The
figure illustrates a receiving system that can convert energy from
light (visible or invisible spectrum) to electricity using a panel
of light detectors, 405, that convert the light in to electricity
and are used to charge a battery system connected to it in a manner
similar to that illustrated and described in FIG. 1A. In this
invention one or more light or laser or infrared laser emitting
power devices, 402(1) through 402(n), are used to transmit power
using light or laser or infrared laser or the like preferably in
invisible spectrum though it can also be in visible spectrum. The
power transmitter laser devices, 402(1) through 402(n), are tuned
and coupled to the power receiving panel of light detectors, 405,
using light or laser or infrared laser or the like to transfer
power even when there is no physical connection between the
devices, 402(1) through 402(n) and 405. These devices can be
separated from each other for up to several meters and still
achieve a large portion of transmitter power to be received. When
laser or infrared lasers are used a beam with a very tight
directional control is used to transmit and receive power. Such a
method of power transfer can achieve orders of magnitude higher
efficiency of power transfer at these distances compared to visible
light emitting devices without directional focus. Advances in
current laser diode technologies is such that it is expected that
within near future a 1 kilowatt per 1 cm diode laser bar will be
achievable commercially doubling the current rating of 500 Watts
per 1 cm diode laser. Thus a plurality of such lasers can be used
to generate a significant amount of power which can be transmitted
using the laser power emitting devices, 402(1) through 402(n),
which can then be received by a panel of laser beam power
detectors, 405, with a very high energy transfer efficiency
compared to solar panels.
The power transmitter laser devices, 402(1) through 402(n), are
powered by a power supply, 401, which may draw its power from a
power station or power source which may be generating its power
using technologies like hydroelectric power, solar power, nuclear
power, geothermal power, coal or wind or the like. The power supply
generates current through the wires, 403 & 404, coupled to the
power transmitter laser devices, 402, to generate a focused beam of
laser or light or infrared laser or the like. The receiving laser
detector panel, 405, is tuned to the appropriate laser or light
frequencies and receives the transmitted power when it is within a
distance of a visibility of the transmitter laser devices without
physical contact with the transmitter devices. The receiving laser
detector panel is coupled to a rechargeable battery and its
circuits, 110, through a switch 108, and the connecting wires, 107
and 106. When the switch, 108, is closed or turned-on, the circuit
connectivity between the receiving detector panel and the battery
circuit, 110, is established and a current flow is established
which starts charging the battery. Once the battery, 110, is
charged, the switch, 108, is turned-off to prevent the battery from
overcharging. The figure does not illustrate all the control
circuits that perform the functions of turning various switches and
sensors in this invention on and off, so as to not obscure the
invention. Design and implementation of controlling a switch to
perform the on and off functions are well understood as may be
obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art. Once the battery is
charged the switch, 109, is closed or turned-on which establishes a
circuit connection between the battery and a load, 111, which can
then draw power from the battery to do its operation. In one
embodiment of this invention, the load, 111, may optionally be an
electric motor and its associated circuitry used to drive a
vehicle. The vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle or may be a
hybrid vehicle or the like. The rechargeable battery, 110, may
optionally be made of NiMH or Li-Ion or Lead-acid or the like
technologies. As discussed above, our invention is agnostic to the
type of the rechargeable battery technology, except that
appropriate battery circuits in 110 would need to be embodied to
properly operate the battery.
FIG. 4B illustrates laser beam coupled wireless charger for dual
mode vehicle batteries. The circuits illustrated in this figure
operate similar to those illustrated in FIG. 1A, however a few
components are added in this illustration. A set of switches, 112
and 113, and another rechargeable battery, 114, is added in this
illustration. Two rechargeable batteries in this operating mode can
thus be used in dual modes, where in, when one battery is being
charged the other may be used to operate the load, 111. For
instance, when battery 110 is fully charged and is being used to
operate the load, 111, the battery, 114, may be charged from the
receiving coil 105, when the switch 112 is closed or turned-on to
establish a circuit between the battery, 114, and the receiving
coil, 105, through the wires, 106 and 107. During such operation,
the switches 108 and 113 would be open or turned-off and the switch
109 would be closed or turned-on to establish connectivity between
battery, 110, and load 111 and establish separate circuit
connectivity between the coil, 105, and battery, 114. Similarly,
when the battery 110, is being charged from the receiving laser
detector panel, and the battery 114 is being used to operate the
load 111, the switches 109 and 112 would be turned-off or be open
whereas the switches 108 and 113 would be closed or turned-on. Thus
the illustrated system of FIG. 1B can be used to operate a load at
all times, from one or the other battery while the battery not be
used to operate the load is being charged from the wireless
charging elements of this illustration.
The vehicle batteries used today can hold 1-2 kilowatt-hours of
energy, however Li-Ion batteries can hold 6-8 kilowatt-hours of
energy to enable electric only travel mode for 40 to 50 miles. The
power transfer may be in the range to 6 to 8 Kilowatts or more
using multiple transmitter laser devices and receive panel
detectors and use parallel paths from receiving panels to charge
the batteries in a short time period as may be appreciated by one
with ordinary skill in the art.
FIG. 5A illustrates a laser beam coupled wireless charger for
vehicles. The figure illustrates a vehicle, 501, with onboard
rechargeable batteries, 110 and 114, along with the receive
detector panel or device, 405 and the appropriate switches 108,
109, 112 and 113 which are described above for illustration in FIG.
1B. The laser power transmitting components, like 401 and 402,
along with their connecting circuits are left off from the vehicle.
When the vehicle comes within the laser beam coupling distance of
the power transmit device, 402, it can start receiving power to
charge its battery or operate a load or the like. The transmit
device may be deployed in homes, offices, charging stations or the
like where a vehicle using the onboard laser power receiving
device, 405, can draw power from to recharge its on board battery
or batteries.
FIG. 5B illustrates laser beam coupled wireless charging system
embedded on a road. In this embodiment of our invention, one or
more laser power transmitting devices, 402, are built or embedded
on the road, 502 or the road surface or the like. In other
embodiments of this invention the laser power transmitting devices
may be above the road over the vehicles or on the side of the road
as described above. Even though the figure illustrates the power
supply elements, 401, of the laser power transmitter subsystems,
503(1) through 503(n), are illustrated to be embedded in the road
next to the transmitting devices, 402, it is possible and may be
preferred to have the power supplies be located at a facility away
from the road, like at a power station or the like and the wires,
403 and 404, connecting the power supply, 401 to the transmitting
device, 402, be run from such locations to the transmitting
devices, 402. When a vehicle, 501, equipped with a laser receiving
device and rechargeable batteries and the like comes in coupling
distance of the power transmitter subsystem like 503 (1), it can
receive power to charge its on board rechargeable battery while it
is in the coupling distance. If only one such power transmitter
subsystem, like 503(1) is present, when the vehicle is moving, the
vehicle may stay in the coupling distance for a few seconds
depending on the speed of the vehicle and would certainly not be
sufficient to charge its battery. However, as illustrated in this
figure, if multiple power transmitter subsystems are embedded on
the road where the vehicle is traveling, the vehicle's onboard
power receiving device, 405, may be coupled to at least one of the
laser power transmitter subsystems thereby creating an effect of
the receiving panel to be constantly coupled to a power
transmitting device as if the vehicle is stationary near a laser
power transmitter. Thus using the invention of this patent, a
vehicle can continue to be charged while it is in motion as long as
the vehicle is in the laser coupling distance of the laser
transmitter device. This can drastically lower or eliminate the
need of vehicles to operate on fossil fuels even for longer
distances comparable to the range of today's gasoline fueled
vehicles, provided charging roads with appropriate sections of
laser power transmitter subsystems are available.
FIG. 6A illustrates laser wireless chargers on a road built in
segments. In this illustration the laser power transmitter
subsystems are embedded on sections of the roads which may each
stretch for distances of a few miles to 30 miles or more. For
example, when a vehicle 501 enters the section 601, it may be able
to start charging one or more of it's on board batteries, while
using one of the charged batteries to continue to drive on the
charging road section 601. If section 601, stretches for say 50
miles, and the vehicle is driven at a speed of 50 miles per hour,
then the onboard rechargeable batteries can be charged for a period
of one hour which may be sufficient to transfer a significant
amount energy to the batteries to continue to drive on the road for
a while before the next stretch or section, 602, of charging road
is reached, when the vehicle can start charging the batteries
again. As described above the power transmitter subsystems would
transmit significant power like for one embodiment of over 6 to 8
Kilowatt hour. Thus by using the inventions of this patent,
vehicles can achieve electric-only mode of operation for long
distance travel along with local travel and possibly eliminate or
sharply reduce the need for gasoline.
FIG. 6B illustrates Continuous laser Wireless Chargers on a road.
There may be special roads build with the laser power transmitter
subsystems built from one place to another place which can be used
to charge on board batteries of vehicles or even completely power
such vehicles to operate using wireless power transmitted from the
laser transmitter subsystems. Such roads may be toll roads or built
specifically for wireless power charging for vehicles with wireless
power receivers.
FIG. 6C illustrates Segments of laser Wireless Chargers on a road
activated using sensors. The vehicles with wireless laser power
receiving devices onboard vehicles and the wireless laser power
transmitter subsystems on the roads may optionally comprise of
sensors or communication devices that can communicate with each
other (not illustrated). Thus when a vehicle with a wireless power
receiving device is in laser coupling distance of the wireless
laser power transmitter subsystem the sensors or the communication
devices communicate with each other such that only a small number
of wireless laser power transmitter subsystems may need to be
turned on to not waste power from power transmitter subsystems that
may not be in a coupling distance of the vehicle. In one embodiment
power transmitter devices within a few meters of the vehicle may be
turned on in a sequence as the vehicle travels while those not in
the coupling distance may be turned off there by saving power from
being wasted. For example, when the vehicle comes near a section of
the road like 604, the power transmitters of section 604 and
optionally sections 605 or the like may be turned-on, however the
transmitters in sections of road beyond 605 may be turned-off.
However, as the vehicle moves forward for example to section 605,
the power transmitters of sections 604 may be turned-off while the
power transmitters of section 605, and the like may be turned-on.
The number of power transmitters turned-on around the vehicle may
depend on many factors like the range of laser coupling, the
strength of the lasers, the length of the vehicle, the number of
receiver devices on the vehicle, the legal laser safety limits and
the like as may be appreciated by one with ordinary skill in the
art. Further, if vehicles that do not posses the onboard wireless
charging devices or may not need to charge their batteries or the
like travel on the roads with wireless power transmitters, the
power transmitters would not be turned on there by using their
power only when necessary to charge a vehicle with wireless laser
power receiver device and optionally only when such a vehicle needs
its batteries to be charged.
Even though the illustrations in this patent application illustrate
two batteries on board a vehicle, one with ordinary skill in the
art will appreciate that a vehicle with one or more batteries based
systems may also be devised using the teachings of this patent
application and all such variations are within the scope and spirit
of this invention. When only a single battery is used, the battery
may not optionally be used to drive the load and just be used to
charge the battery and when it is being charged a fuel engine or
the like may be used to drive the vehicle.
While the foregoing has been with reference to particular
embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated by those
skilled in the art that changes in these embodiments may be made
without departing from the principles and spirit of the
invention.
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